The AAC Rubric Wordsmith

18

How to Use the AAC Rubric Wordsmith

Searching for a word? The wordsmith can help you find words that describe various levels of quality. The following sample demonstrates
how to use the wordsmith to assist in creating the rubric descriptors.
Step One

Step Two

State criteria as action verbs and

link to learner outcomes. Criteria
are placed in the left hand column.

Flesh out the action of the criteria

by providing the context of the
assessment task. Note that the basic
description is the same for each level.

Step Three

Select descriptors for each level from the

wordsmith (see excerpt below). Depending on the
context of the assessment task, you may need to select
words from more than one row in the wordsmith.

Grade 7 Social Studies Sample

4
Excellent

Level
Criteria
Summarizes events
(7.S.2.3)

3
Proficient

Creates a comprehensive
summary of events.

Creates a thorough
summary of events.

2
Adequate
Creates a cursory
summary of events.

1
Limited
Creates a superficial
summary of events.

Excerpt from the AAC Rubric Wordsmith

Words that describe the skill of
selecting enough information
at varying levels of quality:
Excellent

Proficient

Adequate

Limited

comprehensive

thorough

cursory

superficial

in-depth

sufficient

partial

incomplete

rich & detailed

specific

simplistic

undeveloped

extensive

substantial

partial

sketchy

Excerpt from Building Better Rubrics Alberta Assessment Consortium 2009.

Permission is granted to AAC member jurisdictions to reproduce The AAC Rubric Wordsmith for use in school and/or jurisdiction professional
development contexts. Any other use requires prior approval from the copyright holder. Please contact AAC at www.aac.ab.ca.

The AAC Rubric Wordsmith

19

The AAC Rubric Wordsmith is organized around the following key process skills that are important for students to demonstrate:
selecting the right information
selecting enough information
drawing conclusions
providing support for opinions
designing/constructing
organizing/formatting
developing questions/making predictions
analyzing information/data
communicating information
This is not an exclusive list, but rather represents key higher level process skills that appear frequently in programs of study.
Notes of Caution
The words in the wordsmith have been copied from existing rubrics and are meant as a starting point for your rubric construction;
however, because they came from a specific context, the words may not be appropriate for the specific context you are creating.
The descriptive words from the wordsmith should not float between levels. For example, the word substantial, which is used to
describe proficient work, should not be used to describe work that is excellent or adequate. To put it simply, once a level 3 word,
always a level 3 word.

Excerpt from Building Better Rubrics Alberta Assessment Consortium 2009.

Permission is granted to AAC member jurisdictions to reproduce The AAC Rubric Wordsmith for use in school and/or jurisdiction professional
development contexts. Any other use requires prior approval from the copyright holder. Please contact AAC at www.aac.ab.ca.

The AAC Rubric Wordsmith

Step One
State criteria and place
in the left hand column.

Step Two
Flesh out the action of the criteria. The
basic description is the same for each level.

Sample criteria that relate to the skill of

selecting information
in a variety of contexts
identifies key events
accesses and retrieves information
explains historical context
describes character
explains negative human impact
describes factors that shaped worldview

20

Step Three
Select descriptors for each
level from the wordsmith.

Words that describe the skill of

selecting the right information
at varying levels of quality
Excellent

Proficient

Adequate

Limited

pertinent

relevant

suitable

trivial

insightful

meaningful

appropriate

superficial

significant

relevant

predictable

vague

perceptive

thoughtful

basic

questionable

precise

logical

partially correct

confusing

purposeful

focused

appropriate

irrelevant

Words that describe the skill of

selecting enough information
at varying levels of quality
Excellent

Proficient

Adequate

Limited

comprehensive

thorough

cursory

superficial

in-depth

sufficient

partial

incomplete

rich & detailed

specific

simplistic

undeveloped

extensive

substantial

partial

sketchy

Excerpt from Building Better Rubrics Alberta Assessment Consortium 2009.

Permission is granted to AAC member jurisdictions to reproduce The AAC Rubric Wordsmith for use in school and/or jurisdiction professional
development contexts. Any other use requires prior approval from the copyright holder. Please contact AAC at www.aac.ab.ca.

The AAC Rubric Wordsmith

Step One
State criteria and place
in the left hand column.

Step Two
Flesh out the action of the criteria. The
basic description is the same for each level.

Sample criteria that relate to the skill of

drawing conclusions
in a variety of contexts
evaluates product

21

Step Three
Select descriptors for each
level from the wordsmith.

Words that describe the skill of

drawing conclusions
at varying levels of quality
Excellent

Proficient

Adequate

Limited

shares impression of Canadian identity

insightful

thoughtful

predictable

trivial

connects insights to personal experience

astute

relevant

appropriate

unfocused

perceptive

thoughtful

routine

trivial

intuitive

logical

rudimentary

unsubstantiated

innovative

credible

predictable

trite

compelling

meaningful

obvious

tenuous

Words that describe the skill of

providing support for opinions
at varying levels of quality

Sample criteria that relate to the skill of

providing support for opinions
in a variety of contexts
justifies recommendations

Excellent

Proficient

Adequate

Limited

supports position

compelling

convincing

believable

weak

prepares an argument

insightful

thoughtful

simplistic

unconvincing

significant

relevant

predictable

unrelated

persuasive

credible

plausible

inconclusive

explicit

logical

reasonable

unsupported

Excerpt from Building Better Rubrics Alberta Assessment Consortium 2009.

Permission is granted to AAC member jurisdictions to reproduce The AAC Rubric Wordsmith for use in school and/or jurisdiction professional
development contexts. Any other use requires prior approval from the copyright holder. Please contact AAC at www.aac.ab.ca.

The AAC Rubric Wordsmith

Step One
State criteria and place
in the left hand column.

Step Two
Flesh out the action of the criteria. The
basic description is the same for each level.

modifies design
designs and constructs survey

Excellent

demonstrates revision strategies

uses text as models

formulates questions
develops a hypothesis

Adequate

Limited

practical

viable

unworkable

innovative

effective

workable

ineffective

Words that describe the skill of

organizing/formatting
at varying levels of quality
Excellent

Proficient

Adequate

Limited

skillful

systematic

simplistic

haphazard

purposeful

logical

methodical

disorganized

Words that describe the skill of

developing questions/making predictions
at varying levels of quality

Sample criteria that relate to the skill of

developing questions/making predictions
in a variety of contexts
predicts likelihood of an event

Proficient

efficient

Sample criteria that relate to the skill of

organizing/formatting
in a variety of contexts
organizes information to enhance clarity

Step Three
Select descriptors for each
level from the wordsmith.

Words that describe the skill of

designing/constructing
at varying levels of quality

Sample criteria that relate to the skill of

designing/constructing
in a variety of contexts
designs circuit

22

Excellent

Proficient

Adequate

Limited

perceptive

focused

reasonable

irrelevant

insightful

logical

predictable

disconnected

purposeful

relevant

appropriate

vague

precise

effective

feasible

confusing

Excerpt from Building Better Rubrics Alberta Assessment Consortium 2009.

Permission is granted to AAC member jurisdictions to reproduce The AAC Rubric Wordsmith for use in school and/or jurisdiction professional
development contexts. Any other use requires prior approval from the copyright holder. Please contact AAC at www.aac.ab.ca.

The AAC Rubric Wordsmith

Step One
State criteria and place
in the left hand column.

Step Two
Flesh out the action of the criteria. The
basic description is the same for each level.

displays and analyzes data

analyzes character motivation

Excellent

communicates information (through oral, visual

and/or writing)

Proficient

Adequate

Limited

accurate

logical

partially accurate

flawed

insightful

logical

simplistic

unsupported

astute

credible

plausible

inaccurate

precise

relevant

basic

irrelevant

Words that describe the skill of

communicating information
at varying levels of quality

Sample criteria that relate to the skill of

communicating information
in a variety of contexts
enhances presentation with props/visuals

Step Three
Select descriptors for each
level from the wordsmith.

Words that describe the skill of

analyzing information/data
at varying levels of quality

Sample criteria that relate to the skill of

analyzing information/data
in a variety of contexts
evaluates alarm and procedures

23

Excellent

Proficient

Adequate

Limited

vivid

interesting

simplistic

lacks appeal

compelling

effective

predictable

does little to
sustain interest

enhances

supports

partially supports

interferes with

engaging

interesting

straightforward

ineffective

skillful

effective

appropriate

inappropriate

intriguing

interesting

predictable

ineffective

selects appropriate visuals

Excerpt from Building Better Rubrics Alberta Assessment Consortium 2009.

Permission is granted to AAC member jurisdictions to reproduce The AAC Rubric Wordsmith for use in school and/or jurisdiction professional
development contexts. Any other use requires prior approval from the copyright holder. Please contact AAC at www.aac.ab.ca.